Collapsible dye tube

ABSTRACT

A tube for the treatment of yarn formed on a moldable material in a holding process such as by injection molding and which is resiliently compressible in both the axial and radial directions although it may take a permanent set under certain bath conditions, and which provides a suitable cylindrical surface for yarn wound thereon.

[ Sept. 18, 1973 COLLAPSIBLE DYE TUBE 2/1971 Egyptien........................ 3,471,102 10/1969 lnouyeetal.....,..

[75] Inventor: Ralph M. Draper, Elnora, NY.

3,563,491 2/1971 l-lahm et a1. 242/118.1l 3,465,984 9/1969 Tigges et al......... 242/1 18.11

[73] Assignee: Albany International Corp., Albany,

Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz [22] Flled- June 1971 Attorney-Kane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan &Kurucz Appl. N0.: 154,560

[57] ABSTRACT A tube for the treatment of yarn formed on a moldable material in a holding process such as by injection molding and which is resiliently compressible in both the, axial and radial directions although it may take a permanent set under certain bath conditions, and which provides a suitable cylindrical surface for yarn wound thereon.

loo 8 85m 7 8 mm ,6 1w 81 0 u 2 u 0 mwn I. In 2 "5 "4 "2 m mmh c .r. Ha e s L "M I S H UIF HUM. 555 [ill [56] References Cited UNITED ,STATES PATENTS 3,561,696 2/1971 Hahm 242 /1 18.11 V 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEH 3.759.461

SHEET 1 OF 3 ZAZPH A4. 02 E PAIENIEn EH 3.759.461

SHEET 3 (1F 3 INVEN TOR.

47706415365 &

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the treatment of thread and yarn it is frequently desirable to wind the thread or yarn about a tube. When the treatment is a wet treatment such as a dyeing operation, the tube with the yarn wound thereon is then submerged in a bath. Many advantages have been found in the utilization of such a tube which can undergo radial collapse. In certain applications axial collapse is desirable and frequently both radial and axial collapsing or compression is required. Such collapse capability has been satisfactorily achieved in metal tubes. Metal tubes, however, are expensive to manufacture. A suitable disposable tube formed of a moldable material such as plastic which can be readily molded by conventional techniques such as injection molding techniques is desirable from an economical point of view. Several designs of such tubes are known in the art; however, for the most part, these have not been successful from a functional or economical point of view.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A tube for the treatment of yarn which is resiliently compressible in both the axial and radial directions and which provides a suitable cylindrical surface for yarn wound thereon comprising parallel end rings, at least one peripheral serpentine ring intermediate the end rings, the serpentine ring being joined to each of the end rings by structural members which provide substantially equal clockwise and counterclockwise rotation resisting forces between the serpentine ring and the end rings.

The expression resiliently compressible is used herein to indicate that in the absence of actual bath conditions and when exposed to ambient temperature and pressures alone, the tube upon release of compressive forces will return to its original shape whereas under bath conditions it may take a permanent set under compression.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a tube formed in accordance with the teachings of this invention vertically disposed and in the non-compressed condition;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the tube vertically disposed with portions thereof shown in solid lines and portions thereof shown in broken lines in order to facilitate understanding of the functional aspects of the tube during radial compression;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side view of the tube horizontally disposed with portions thereof shown in solid lines and portions thereof shown in broken lines in order to facilitate understanding of the functional aspects of the tube during axial compression;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of a segment of the tube modified to provide structural members at an angle greater than the angle formed by like members in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration similar to FIG. 7 with the tube modified to provide structural members at an angle less than the angle formed by like members in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The tube shown in the Figs. is formed of thermoplastic material by an injection molding process with all parts integral. It has parallel end rings 10 and I1 and a plurality of structural members forming parallelograms such as those indicated by way of example by the numerals 12, l3, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 joining the end rings. The structural members form angles with the planes of the rings and provide a repeating pattern. They can have any cross section desired.

In FIG. 5 certain of the structural members are shown in solid lines and certain in broken lines. Each of the groups of structural members which are shown in solid and which are joined provides a peripheral serpentine ring intermediate the end rings having an equal number of like portions above and below a circumferential center line which is in a plane parallel to the planes of the end rings. For example, in FIG. 5 the serpentine rings are indicated by the numerals 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28. Comparing FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, it is seen that the sepentine ring 23 is formed by structural members indicated by the numerals 29 thru 52. The circumferential center line of the sepentine ring 23 is indicated by the numeral 53 and it is in a plane parallel to the planes of the end rings 10 and 11. The center line divides each of the structural members such as for example 35 and 36 so that the serpentine ring 23 has an equal number of like portions above and below the circumferential center line 53.

Each of the serpentinerings with the exception of the rings 20 and 28 immediately adjacent respective and rings is joined or linked to each of the end rings 10 and 11 by structural members which provide substantially equal clockwise and counterclockwise rotation resisting forces between the respective serpentine ringand the end rings. Returning to FIG. 5, it is seen that structural members such as those indicated by the numeral 54 join the serpentine ring 23 on one side to adjacent ring 22 and structural members 55 join the serpentine ring 23 to adjacent ring 24 on the remaining side. The structural members 54 and 55 link adjacent or facing apexes of these rings. Thus, a structural system is developed so that each serpentine ring is joined to each of the end rings by sufficient structural members and other serpentine rings to provide substantially equal clockwise and counterclockwise: rotation resisting forces between that serpentine ring and the end rings which forces can resist rotational movement of the respective serpentine ring about the circumference of the tube while the serpentine configuration of the rings such as ring 23 allow for radial compression when radial forces are applied thereto. FIGS. 3 and 4 taken as sections on FIG. 1 illustrate the appearance of the structural members in horizontal at those points. Hence, in FIG. 3 the structural members are indicated by the numeral 56 and in FIG. 4 the structural members are indicated by the numeral 57. V

In the FIGS. 1 through 5 members 15a, 14a, 16b, 14b and 16a respectively provide first, second, third, fourth and fifth peripheral elongated structural members disposed between the end rings with a first endofmember- 15a abutting member 14a remote from the ends thereof and the second end of member 15a abutting member 16b remote from the ends thereof. Members 14b and 16a abut member 15a at spaced locations remote from the ends thereof and at opposite sides thereof.

It is noted that an abutting surface is defined on each of the respective structural members at the abutment of a structural member therewith and each of the respective members is unsupported by a structural member directly opposite the abutting surface. Hence, for example, the ends of members. 14b and 16a define abutting surfaces on member 15a at their points of abutment therewith and member 15a is unsupported by a structural member directly opposite these abutting surfaces. This is repeated throughout the pattern established.

In FIG. 6 the tube is disposed horizontally and certain of the structural members are shown in solid lines and certain in broken lines. This is somewhat similar to the illustration in FIG. 5, however, in FIG. 6 different members are shown in solid and broken than were thusly shown in FIG. 5. Hence, the zone of the serpentine ring 23 is shown in FIG. 6, however, it is not shown as a serpentine ring, rather the members 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 comparing FIGS. and 6 are shown in solid and 31, 33, 35, 37 and 39 are shown broken. The members 54 and 55 are shown in solid in FIG. 6. Thus, in FIG. 6 there is illustrated not serpentine rings but rather serpentine axial support members which extend between rings and 11 on the periphery of the tube. In FIG. 6 the numerals 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 and 61 respectively indicate such serpentine axial support members. Each of these axial support members has a center line which is parallel to the axis of the tube. Hence, serpentine axial support member 60 is shown with its axis 62 drawn in in FIG. 6. The axial support members are joined to one another by structural members which link each apex of each support member to a point on the center line of the adjacent axial support member. Hence, the apex of axial support member provided by the juncture of structural elements 32 and 54 is linked to axial support member 59 by member 33 and the apex 63 is joined to adjacent axial support member 61 by linking structural member 64. Like members 64 are indicated in FIG. 6. Hence, there is provided a plurality of peripheral serpentine axial support members joining the end rings 10 and 11. Each of the axial support members is joined to its adjacent axial support members by structural members. Hence, upon axial compression of the tube the axial support members will fold and the tube will satisfactorily compress with the axial support members being maintained in relative position with respect to each other due to the linking structural members.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. I the angle 0 is shown by way of example as 45. In FIG. 7 the angle is shown greater than 45 or approximately 75 while in FIG. 8 the angle is shown less than 45 or approximately 30. This illustrates that the angle can be changed to provide more or less resistance to radial or axial compression as desired. Additionally, in molding certain of the structural elements can be constructed thicker than others to provide increased resistance to compression and bending at particular locations.

I claim:

1. A tube for the treatment of yarn which is resiliently compressible in both the axial and radial directions and which provides a suitable cylindrical surface for yarn wound thereon comprising, parallel end rings, at least two peripheral serpentine rings intermediate said end rings, each of said serpentine rings having a center line and apexes on either side thereof and equidistant therefrom, said serpentine rings being joined to each other by angularly disposed structural members inclusive between said center lines, connecting proximate apexes of adjacent serpentine rings and the structural members attached on one side of the center line of a respective serpentine ring disposed in a direction opposite to that of the structural members attached to said respective serpentine ring on the remaining side of said center line.

2. A tube in accordance with claim 1 in which each of said peripheral serpentine rings has an equal number of like portions above and below said circumferential center line.

3. A' tube in accordance with claim 2 in which said circumferential center line is in a plane parallel to the planes of said end rings.

4. A tube in accordance with claim 1 in which a plurality of peripheral serpentine rings are provided intermediate said end rings and at least one of said serpentine rings is joined on one side to one of said end rings.

5. A tube for the treatment of yarn which is resiliently compressible in both the axial and radial directions and which provides a suitable cylindrical surface for yarn wound thereon comprising, parallel end rings, a plurality of peripheral serpentine axial support members joining said end rings, each of said axial support members having a center line and a plurality of apexes on either side of said center line equidistant therefrom and a plurality of structural members respectively joining a plurality of apexes of each of said axial support members to a respective adjacent axial support member at the center line thereof with said structural members attached to the apexes of a respective support member on one side of the center line thereof disposed in a direction opposite to that of the structural members attached to the apexes of said respective support member on the remaining side of said centerline.

6. A tube in accordance with claim 5 in which the axis of each of said axial support members is parallel to the axis of the tube.

7. A tube for the treatment of yarn which is resiliently compressible in both the axial and radial directions and which provides suitable cylindrical surface for yarn wound thereon comprising, parallel end rings, a plurality of first, second, third, fourth and fifth like peripheral elongated structural members disposed between said end rings, a first end of each of said first members abutting one of said second members remote from the ends thereof, a second end of each of said first members abutting one of said third members remote from the ends thereof, and said fourth and fifth structural members abutting said first structural member at spaced locations remote from the ends thereof and on opposite sides thereof, an abutting surface defined on each of said respective members at the abutment of a structural member therewith and each of said respective members being unsupported by a structural member directly opposite said abutting surface.

8. A tube for the treatment of yarn which is resiliently compressible in accordance with claim 7 in which each of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth elongated structural members forms an angle with the planes of said end rings.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,759,461

Invent-(5) Ralph M; Draper It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corretted as shown below:

In the Abstract, line 1, "on" should be --of--;

line 2, "holding? should be --'-molding--;

Col. 3, line 31, the numerals 56, 57, 5s, 59, 60 and 61 s'hofild be #56"; 57" 5s", 59', 60' and 6l'--.

Signed and sealed this llrth day of May l97l (SEAL) Atte st EDWARD M .F LET CHER, JR Attesting Officer c. MARSHALL DANN Commis s ioner of Patent s F ORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 6O376-P69 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I," O-Jii-SS 

1. A tube for the treatment of yarn which is resiliently compressible in both the axial and radial directions and which provides a suitable cylindrical surface for yarn wound thereon comprising, parallel end rings, at least two peripheral serpentine rings intermediate said end rings, each of said serpentine rings having a center line and apexes on either side thereof and equidistant therefrom, said serpentine rings being joined to each other by angularly disposed structural members inclusive between said center lines, connecting proximate apexes of adjacent serpentine rings and the structural members attached on one side of the center line of a respective serpentine ring disposed in a direction opposite to that of the structural members attached to said respective serpentine ring on the remaining side of said center line.
 2. A tube in accordance with claim 1 in which each of said peripheral serpentine rings has an equal number of like portions above and below said circumferential center line.
 3. A Tube in accordance with claim 2 in which said circumferential center line is in a plane parallel to the planes of said end rings.
 4. A tube in accordance with claim 1 in which a plurality of peripheral serpentine rings are provided intermediate said end rings and at least one of said serpentine rings is joined on one side to one of said end rings.
 5. A tube for the treatment of yarn which is resiliently compressible in both the axial and radial directions and which provides a suitable cylindrical surface for yarn wound thereon comprising, parallel end rings, a plurality of peripheral serpentine axial support members joining said end rings, each of said axial support members having a center line and a plurality of apexes on either side of said center line equidistant therefrom and a plurality of structural members respectively joining a plurality of apexes of each of said axial support members to a respective adjacent axial support member at the center line thereof with said structural members attached to the apexes of a respective support member on one side of the center line thereof disposed in a direction opposite to that of the structural members attached to the apexes of said respective support member on the remaining side of said center line.
 6. A tube in accordance with claim 5 in which the axis of each of said axial support members is parallel to the axis of the tube.
 7. A tube for the treatment of yarn which is resiliently compressible in both the axial and radial directions and which provides suitable cylindrical surface for yarn wound thereon comprising, parallel end rings, a plurality of first, second, third, fourth and fifth like peripheral elongated structural members disposed between said end rings, a first end of each of said first members abutting one of said second members remote from the ends thereof, a second end of each of said first members abutting one of said third members remote from the ends thereof, and said fourth and fifth structural members abutting said first structural member at spaced locations remote from the ends thereof and on opposite sides thereof, an abutting surface defined on each of said respective members at the abutment of a structural member therewith and each of said respective members being unsupported by a structural member directly opposite said abutting surface.
 8. A tube for the treatment of yarn which is resiliently compressible in accordance with claim 7 in which each of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth elongated structural members forms an angle with the planes of said end rings. 